Edward weston



(No Model.)

-E. WESTON.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARBON GO'NDUGTORS.

Patented Nov. 27, 1883.

N. PEIERS. PlmlwLllhugmynhlm Wishmglon. D, c

UNrTED: STATES PATENT OFErc EDWARD WESTON, or nEWAEK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB ro THE UNITED STATES ELECTRIC LIGHTING COMPANY, or NEW YonK, 1v. Y.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING CARBON coNoucToRs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,327, dated November 2'7, 1883.

I Anpllculion filed July 31,1583. (No model.)

To 60% whom it may concern:

ject of the Queen of Great Britain, anda resi dent of Newark, in the county of Essex and 5 State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forTreating Carbon Conductors, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had tothe drawings accompanying and form-,

mg apart of the same.

The process of treating carbons and the ap paratus for use in the same, to which this invention relates, are as follows:

A number of carbons are prepared from any suitable carbonizable material, all being as nearly as possible of the same size and resistance. One or more of these are then mounted on temporary clamps and covered by a globe or receiver communicating with an air-pump.

. By means of this latter the air is withdrawn from the receiver, and its place then filled by a hydrocarbon vapor, which is admitted through a pipe from a gasoline-tank or other gas-supply. This vapor is then partly withdrawn and the current passed through the carbons, a current of sufficient strength being employed to bring them to a red heat. By this means carbon is dissociated from the surrounding vapor and deposited on the conductor, gradually low ering its electrical resistance. \Vhen the standard resistance is reached, the current is interrupted, air is admitted under the receiver, and the carbons removed. The necessary degree of exhaustion of air and attenuation of the hy- 3 5 drocarbon is readily attained by the employment of any good form of mechanical air-pump, and one or two of such pumps, driven or operated by steam or water power, are generally used. In practice it has been found that these pumps require constant attention and repair, so much so that the expense of carrying out the process by their use is very greatly increased. This I have found to be due to the rapid destruction and cutting of the valves 4 5 and moving portions in contact in the pump by the fine and hard particles of carbon precipitated from the hydrocarbon vapor by theaction of the current and carried down through the connecting=pipes from the receiver into the pump. I avoid this difficulty and preserve the pump from the destructive effects of carbon-dust byinterposing one or more filters between the treating apparatus and the pump, and in this combination my invention is mainly comprised.

In describing more in detail the nature and purpose of the invention, reference willbe made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the principal parts of a complete treating apparatus. Fig. 2 is a central section of the filter devised by me. Big. .3 is a detail of thesame. V

Similarletters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in the several figures.

A is a metal plate, upon which the receiver or exhaust-chamber B is fitted in any of the usual ways.

G is a tube leading up through the plate A, under the receiver B, and connecting with a mechanical air-pump, D. Connecting with the pipe 0 is a pipe, I l, from a cylinder, F, for containing a volatile hydrocarbon or any other form of reservoir, from which a carbon-bearing vapor may be introduced into the receiver. Stop-cocks c and e are inserted in the pipes G and E at the points indicated.

Surrounding the orifice of pipe 0 on the plate A are a given number of clamping devices, G, for retaining the carbons to be treated, and with the clamps are connected the conductors H H, by which the current is introduced. Over the orifice of pipe 0 is a brass cup, K, with perforated top, and containing a small quantity of wool, cotton, or any material, to serve as a filter and intercept particles 8 5 of carbon or other substances and prevent the same from passing down into the pump. In the tube or pipe 0, at any convenient point between the pump D and the treating apparatus, is inserted a cylinder of metal, L, divided off into three compartments, a b c, by plates M. These plates are perforated, or composed of wire-gauze, except at their centers, which are without perforations, and designed to break the column or jet of air which rushes in when the receiver B is removed.

The plates M are secured in any manner in the cylinder L, and between them is placed a admitted under the jar B by and the carbons removed.

quantity of wool, cotton waste, or any other material capable of intercepting the carbon particles and preventing them reaching the pump.

While the form of filter described has certain advantages, I do not restrict myself to its use alone, as any other convenient form may be substituted for it.

In using the apparatus one or more carbons are placed in the clamps G and covered by the receiver or bell-jar B. Communication with the reservoir F is then shut off and communication with the pump openedby means of the cooks e and 0, respectively. The air is then withdrawn from the receiver until a high vacuum is produced, when the pump is shut off and vapor admitted from the reservoir F. This "is then partially pumped out, and the current passed through the carbons until they have received'the necessary treatment. Air is then a two-way cock, When the next treating is begun and communication between the receiver B and pump D established, a rush of air to the pump'occurs, that carries along with it the carbon-dust that has found its way into the pipes C and E until it reaches the filter L.

Although I have shown two filters, K and L, I may, without injury to the apparatus, dispense with one, in which case I prefer to re tain the filter L.

The specific construction of the filters is not herein claimed, the same being reserved for subject of another application.

WVithout reference, then, to the specific char acter of the apparatus, the pump, or the filter, and reserving as subject of other applications features of novelty herein shown or described but not claimed, what I now claim is 1. In a carbon-treating apparatus, the combination, with the pipes or tubes, of one or more filters located between the treating chamber or receiver and the air-pump, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a carbon-treating apparatus, the combinati on, with a treating-receiver, a mechanical air-pump, and tube or pipe connecting the same, of a filter placed in said tube for intercepting particles of carbon or other matter, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a carbon-treating apparatus, the combination, with a treating-receiver, B, gas-tube E, air-tube O, and mechanical pump D, of a filter placed in the tube 0, for intercepting par ticles of carbon or other matter, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand this th day of July, 1883.

EDWARD WESTON.

\Vitnesses:

RAYMOND F. BARNES, W. FRISBY. 

